Tire for vehicle-wheels.



PATENTBD JUNE 11, 1907.

T. R HAMILTON.

TIRE FOE VEHICLE WHEELS.

APItLIOATION FILED FEB.23,1906.

W/TNESSES.

A TTOHNFYS UNITE?) STATES ra'rarrr UrriUE.

THOB'IAS F. HAMILTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIRE FOR VEHlCLE Wt'llI-LELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1 1, 1907.

Application filed February 23,1906. Serial No. 302,437.

provide a tire formed ol a plurality of similar segments so connected and secured, that in case of injury to one or more segments, said injured segments can be readily removed and replaced with new ones.

The invention also embodies improved means for connecting said segments, one to the other, and means for fastening said segments to the rim of a vehicle wheel.

The invention consists ol novel features and parts and combinations of the same,

. circle.

like material.

which will be more hilly described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to he had to the accompanying drawings forming a part o1 this specification, in which similar characters ol reference indicate corresponding parts in all theligures. lligure 1 is a sectional view ,of a portion of my vehicle tire showing also a portion 01" a vehicle wheel to which said tire is attached; Fig. 2 is a view ol' one segment of my vehicle wheel tire looking toward the inner periph oral side; and Fig. 3 is a cross section on tilt) line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The tire comprises a plurality of tire segments 10, preferably formed of rubber, or Each tire segment in the direction of its length is curved to the are of a circle in order to conform to the circumference of a vehicle wheel .11, and the ends of said the segment lie in planes radial to said The segments 10 may be of any suitable cross section, such as indicated in Fig. 3, and adapted to lit into awheel rim 12, on the vehicle wheel 11. Each tire segment 10 is formed with an interior chamber, access to which may be had through a slit or opening 13. This chamber is adapted to receive an air sackle, preferably made of soft rubber. Said air sack may be inflated through a tube 15, which extends through the opening 13, and the rim 12, and the telly of the vehicle wheel 11. The exterior end of this tube may be provided with the usual valve protected by the ca 16. Each tire segment is formed. at one en which, for convenience, 1 term the forward end, with a tongue 17, while at the opposite or rear end is a recess 18. The lattcr is of a size to receive the tongue 17 of an adjacent tire segment; ,Projecting from the upper wall of this recess is a bolt 19, providedwith a head 20, which is embedded in the tire segment and preferably vulcanized therein. The shank of the bolt 19 is adapted to pass througha hole 20, in the adjacent tongue 17, and thr 1n1gh a hole 21, formed in the rim and folly of the vehicle wheel. A thumb nut 22, threaded on to the outer end of this bolt tightened against the inner periphery of the folly thus fastening the forward end of one segment and the rear end of the other segment 'lirmly in place, and at the same time connecting said segments together. As an additional meansof connecting the segments together, each tire segment is provided with a tie-piece 23, consisting of a shank formed with a head 24, at one end, and a similar head '25 at the other. Said tie-piece projects from the forward end of the tire segment, the head 2 1 being embedded and vulcanized in the tire segment.

At the rear end of each tire segment is a passage 26, of a diameter sufiicient to admit the head A slot 27 is formed in the up per wall of said passage. A disk of metal 28 is embedded in the tire segment transversely to the slot and passage, and said passage and slot extend through the disk into a recess 29.

The latter is large enough to permit the head of a tie-piece being inserted therein through the passage 26, and raised until the thus joined by passing the tic-piece on the forward end of one segment into the passage 26 at the rear end of the other, and raisin said tie-piece so that the head 25 thereon w' be caught by the disk 28. The depth of the passage 26, and the length of the projecting portion of the tie-piece 23, are such as to bind the tire segments tightly together. In assembling the tire the air sacks in a deflated condition are inserted into the chamber of the tire segments 10, through the openings 13. The openings are then closed by means of lace strings 30, laced through perforations 31, formed in the tire segments at opposite sides of said openings. The bolts 19 are then passed through the tongues 17 and the tie pieces are pressed into engagement with their respective disks 28. The tire segments are then secured to the wheel rim by tightening Ice the nuts 22', after which the air sacks are inflated through the tubes 15.

While 1 have described my invention as relating to pneumatic tire, it will be evident: that th-J same method of securing the segments together would apply to segments of solid form, or of cushionform, and I therefore desire it to be distinctly understood that my invention covers acushion tire and a solid tire well as a pneumatic tire.

Having thus described my invention, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A wheel tire comprising a plurality of tire segments, each of'said segments being formed at one end with a tongue having a hole therein, and at the opposite end with a recess, said recess on one of said tire segments being adapted to receive said tongue on an adjacent tire segment, a bolt secured to each of said segments, the shank of said bolt projecting from said recess, said shank in one of said tire segments being adapted to pass through said hole in the tongue of an adjacent tire segment, said shank being also adapted to pass through the folly of a Wheel, and a nut adapted to be threaded onto said shank, so to secure said tire. segment to said telly.

2. A wheel tire comprising a plurality of tire segments, a tic-piecesecured to and projecting from. one end of each ol' said segments, said tie-piece being formed with a shank and a head, the opposite end ol' said tire segment being formed with a passageway constricted at one side thcrcol', and with a recess at the inner end of said passageway. said recess serving to receive the head ol saidtic-piece of an adjacent tire segment, and said constricted portion ol" said passagcway adapted to receive the shank of said tic-piece ol" said adjacent tire segment.

3'. A wlie'el tire comprising a plurality of tire segments, a ticpicce secured to and proi'jectingi'rom the end ol'cach of said segments,

vsaid tiepiece being lormcd with a shank and ahead, the opposite end ol' said tire segment being formed with passageway constricted at,one side thereof, a metal plate at the inner end of said passageway l' 'ing trzmsvcrscl thereto, a recess at the inner sideol' said plate, and an opening in said plate coin idi ith said passageway and conununlcating with said recess, said rcccss serving to rcccivc the head ol' said tic-piece ol' an adjacent tire segment and said constricted portions of said passageway adaptcil to receive the. shank ol' said tic-piece ol' said adjacent tu'c segment.

4. A whccl lire comprising a plurality of tire segments, a tic-piccc sccurcd to and projcct ingt'rom the end o'l' cach of said s gments, said tic-piece bcing formed with a shank and a head, the opposite end of said tirc scgm'cnt being formed wil h a pzts'sagcw'aj' constricted at. one side thm'mrl,a metal plate at the inner ing a holc-thcu-in.

end of said passagcwa lying transversely thereto, a recess at the inner side of said plate, an opening in said plate coinciding with said passageway and communicating with said recess, said recess serving to receive the head of said'tie-piece of an adjacent. tire segment and said constricted portions of said passageway adapted to receive the shank of said tie-piece of said adjacent tire segment, and means for securing said segments to the felly of a wheel. 1

5. A wheel tire comprising a plurality of tire segments, each of said segments being formed at one end with a tongue having a hole therein and at the opposite end. with a recess, said recess on one of said tire segments being adapted to receive said tongue on 'an adjacent tire segment, a bolt secured to each of said segments, the shank of said bolt, projccting from said recess, said shank on one oi said tire segments" being adaptcd to pass through said hole in said tongue of an adjacent tire segment, said shank being also adapted to pass through the telly of a wheel, a nut adapted to be threaded onto said shank so to secure said tire segments to said fell a tie-picce secured to and projecting from the end of each of said. segments, said tic-piece being formed with' a shank and a head, the opposite end of said tire segments being formed with a passageway constricted at one side thereof, a metal plate at the inner end of said iassagcwa lying transversely thereto, a rccess at the inner side of said plate, and an opening .in said plate coinciding with said passageway and. communicating with said recess. said recess serving to receive the head of said tic-piece oi anmdjaccnt tire segment, and said constrictcd portion of said passage- 'wa. v adapted to rcccivc the shank of said ticpiccc of said :nljaccnt tirc segment.

(5, A whccl tirc comprising a plurality of air sacks, means l'or inllating said air sacks, a plurality of hollow tire segments adapted to receive said air sacks, each of said. segments being t'ormed at one end with a tongue havand at the opposite cup with a recess, said recess on onc o'l said lirc segments bcing adapted to receive said. tongue on an adjacent tire segment, a boltsccurcd to each ol' said scgmcnts, the shank ol' said bolt projecting 'l'rom said recess, said shank on ouc of said tirc segments being adapted to pass through said hole in said tongue of an mljaccnt tirc segment, said shank being also adapted to pass through the l'cll of a wheel, a nut adapted to be threaded said plate, and an opening in said plate coin- Cidlllg with said passageway and communieating with said recess, sind recess servlng to receive the head of said tie-piece of an adjeeent tire-segment, and said constricted p0rtion of said passageway adapted to receive the shank of said tie-piece of said adjacent tire segment.

In testimony whereof I have signed my THOMAS F. HAMILTON.

Witnesses SAM E. BROWN, F. W. SMITH. 

